Prejudice and fear have long fueled intergroup conflicts. While interaction among different groups is essential for fostering peace and stability amid conflicting interests, values, and cultures, there’s also a risk of escalation from direct interactions. Specifically, a lack of neutral mediators to oversee online interactions could lead to destabilization.

Now, a research team, including Kyoto University, has demonstrated that interactive AI programs could alleviate prejudice and anxiety among historically divided ethnic groups in Afghanistan during online interactions.

“Compared to the control group, participants in the AI intervention group showed more engagement in our study and significantly less prejudice and anxiety toward other ethnic groups,” the researchers explain.

Artifical mediation

They evaluated the efficacy of employing a conversational AI (CAI) on the D-Agree discussion platform to facilitate impartial and constructive dialogues. The program guarantees participants a secure and private environment to express themselves freely, a luxury often overlooked in countries not affected by conflict.

“Our over-decade-long work on AI agent-based consensus-building support has empirically demonstrated AI agents’ applicability in de-escalating confrontational situations,” the researchers explain.

Using a randomized controlled experiment, the researchers assessed the causal impact of conversational AI facilitation on online discussions, specifically in reducing prejudice and anxiety.

Participants from three ethnic groups were split into two categories: an AI group and a non-AI control group. The results were as anticipated, with the AI group displaying greater empathy towards other ethnicities compared to those in the control group.

“The neutral AI agents aim to reduce risks by coordinating guided conversations as naturally as possible,” the researchers conclude. “By providing fair and cost-effective strategies to encourage positive interactions, we can promote lasting harmony among diverse ethnic groups.”